Dr. Mehmood Khan

Dr. Mehmood Khan
Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development
PepsiCopepsico.com

Dr. Khan, M.D., is PepsiCo’s Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development. In its global portfolio of food and beverage brands, PepsiCo has 22 different brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. With net revenues of over $63 billion, PepsiCo’s businesses make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are respected household names around the world.

In his role, Dr. Khan oversees the PepsiCo global Performance with Purpose sustainability initiatives, designed to enhance environmental, human and talent sustainability for the company, and he leads PepsiCo’s research and development (R&D) efforts, creating breakthrough innovations in food, beverages and nutrition—as well as delivery, packaging and production technology—to capture competitive advantage and drive PepsiCo’s businesses forward.

With a strong emphasis on broadening the company’s portfolio of offerings, Dr. Khan sets the priorities for innovation, discovery and development at PepsiCo. He consistently pushes the envelope by introducing new technologies and innovative solutions across the development and production processes—and even the entire crops spectrum. As Chair of PepsiCo’s Sustainability Council, Dr. Khan oversees and guides PepsiCo’s sustainability initiatives that help: 1) protect and conserve global water supplies (and provide access to safe water); 2) innovate our packaging to minimize our impact on the environment; 3) eliminate solid waste to landfills from our production facilities; 4) reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions across our global businesses; and 5) support sustainable agriculture by expanding best practices with our growers and suppliers. Under Dr. Khan’s stewardship, PepsiCo’s Food For Good (an enterprise within the company that utilizes PepsiCo’s delivery vehicles, warehouse facilities and management skills to make nutrition accessible for low-income families in the U.S.) is making a difference in the fight against hunger.

Additionally, Dr. Khan strengthens PepsiCo’s global network, reputation and knowledge base by launching research projects with leading universities and technology companies, as well as by spearheading agricultural and nutrition science initiatives.

With Dr. Khan’s leadership, the investments PepsiCo has made in R&D are helping drive the company’s business priorities today and the sustainable growth opportunities of tomorrow. In 2013, PepsiCo had nine of the top 50 new food and beverage products across all measured U.S. retail channels. In the first nine months of 2014, PepsiCo was the #1 contributor to U.S. retail sales growth among the top 30 food and beverage manufacturers. By continuously aligning dynamic consumer tastes and category development opportunities through seamless, integrated research and innovation, the PepsiCo innovation pipeline is stronger than ever.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Dr. Khan was President, Takeda Global Research & Development Center, overseeing Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company’s worldwide R&D efforts. Previously, Dr. Khan was as a faculty member at the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn., serving as Director of the Diabetes, Endocrine and Nutritional Trials Unit in the endocrinology division. He also spent nine years leading programs in diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition for the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

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The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research brings together leading experts to identify and investigate the researchable questions whose answers have the potential to enhance the economic and environmental resilience of our food supply.
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